Covid-19 has blown out our cash, say air balloon firms
Transworld Safaris crew firing up a hot air balloon in the Mara before take-off.
What you need to know:
- Even animals look in awe as they sail by advancing the tourists’ experience on their visit to the game reserve.
- For owners and operators, the business had been lucrative until the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country.
Balloons are fitted with baskets designed to hold a specific number of passengers at any time.
Floating hot air balloons above the Maasai Mara form a spectacular experience to those aboard as it is to those who are watching.
Even animals look in awe as they sail by advancing the tourists’ experience on their visit to the game reserve.
Balloons make the Mara a great honeymoon location as well as a venue for weddings and marriage ceremonies with some people preferring to fly, camp in the bush and document memories.
For owners and operators, the business had been lucrative until the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country.
For the last four months, chief pilot adventure Aloft Hot air balloon Barnabas Mudi says, 11 hot air balloons operated by the company and six other Mada Hotels companies in Serengeti National reserve in Tanzania have been grounded leading to over Sh100 million in losses.
In total there are eight hot air companies in the Maasai Mara that used to fly 40 balloons every morning but were grounded due to international flight lockdown.
16 PEOPLE
Fig Tree Camp Balloon Safaris for instance operates a fleet of balloons that hold either 12 or 16 people at full capacity.
“One of the measures that affected us is the social distancing. Our balloons that used to fly 16 passengers reduced the capacity to 12 and those that should fly 12 reduced clients to eight meaning we are losing four passengers in every flight” he added.
Each passenger pay Sh45,000 to fly for only one hour, with the 16 passenger flight that used to fetch Sh720,000 fetching Sh180,00 less. “For children under 12 years it costs about Sh30,000 per child,” said Mr Mudi.
Balloons are fitted with baskets designed to hold a specific number of passengers at any time.
A new balloon costs approximately Sh4 million or more if it is custom-made or has a special shape, they are mainly filled with propane that holds it up and whose cost can go up to Sh200 per gallon.
“The average balloon flight uses around 20 to 30 gallons, so propane for one flight will set you back about Sh500,” he added.
Mr Mudi an experienced balloon pilot having trained in California, US says for the balloon to be on air, it depends on three modules, the ground crew, those in the aircraft and those working in it.
Three modules
“We have over 100 workers who work in the three modules, those who assist during take-off, the balloon ground chasers, and those at the landing area in the savanna. But all of them with all the pilots have been sent home, jobless due to the coronavirus,” said Mr Mudi.
Every flight needs to have a chase crew on the ground and be there to pick it up, the pilot and any passengers once it lands with a flatbed trailer to carry the basket back to the airport.
With the set safety protocols to counter spread of Covid-19, companies have introduced, hand sanitisers and checking of temperature with a thermos gun, checking if everyone is donning a mask and fumigating the balloon basket before take-off. But all is not lost as things are looking up.
“We are receiving bookings from local tourists, we have taken over 20 of them in the last two days, with two of our balloons already in the air every morning,” he said.
Since the wildebeest migration started last month Kenyans are beating the coronavirus scare to travel and watch the spectacle with all those touring the reserve paying Sh1,200.
So far, hundreds of domestic and international tourists have been registered at the Sikinani gate, the majority being Nairobians and diplomats with a sizeable number taking balloon adventures.
Air balloon ride
Fig Tree acting manager, Mr George Ole Kuluo, said a hot air balloon ride is a calming experience, to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Balloonists have no control over the speed – they make the balloon rise and fall.
Mr Kuluo said the speed and direction is entirely dictated by the wind. Hot air balloon wind limits as a general rule, balloons won’t fly in wind speeds of over 10mph. The ideal pace is between 4-6 mph – perfect for taking in the savannah as you float high above.
A hot air balloon ride is a unique way to see the Maasai Mara. Hanging suspended over 8,000 feet above sea level in the silence of the morning sky, you can gain a privileged perspective of the natural splendor of the land.
As you gaze out from beneath the balloon, your view will encompass forests, plains, the river Mara, and distant mountains.
